April 2013

Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Archer & Armstrong #10 – the FIRST ISSUE of an all-new story arc from New York Times best-selling writer Fred Van Lente and rising star Pere Perez! “Far Faraway” starts here! Out of the pages of Archer & Armstrong’s saga-smashing zero issue and into the modern day, Valiant’s conspiracy-busting adventurers are about to set out on their most dangerous mission yet – infiltrate Area 51!

Mary-Maria, Archer’s arch-nemesis/love interest/adopted sister is back and dead set on taking over The Sect – by any means necessary. What better way to seize control of the most secret of secret societies than by unlocking their most secretive of secrets inside the secretest place on Earth? Now, as Mary-Maria sneaks her way inside Area 51 to claim a long-hidden prize, Archer & Armstrong are about to discover the forbidden history that binds America’s blackest black ops base to the time-lost lands of the Faraway – and wind up fighting their way through each of its tightly guarded mysteries, one punch at a time.

And did we mention the aliens?

Get ready for the truth about extraterrestrials (and dinosaurs and the lost colony of Roanoke) right here as Archer & Armstrong begin an all-new, action-packed adventure on June 5th, only in Archer & Armstrong #10!

After decades of secret conflict, Toyo Harada has managed in one fell swoop to cripple Project Rising Spirit through the masterful manipulation of key players in the Valiant Universe. Now he wants the psiot children Bloodshot rescued from the bowels of a nightmarish PRS facility. Too bad. This rogue band of super-powered escapees have begun to call themselves Generation Zero and they’ve declared a war of their own. First strike: Vegas, baby!

And, while Sin City smolders, Bloodshot is about to discover a second set of deadly abilities that he never even knew existed – one that will redefine everything we thought we knew about the Valiant Universe’s most feared Harbinger hunter…Initiate the Harada Protocol!

The cataclysmic crossover of 2013 hits the Vegas Strip right here on May 1st, only in Harbinger Wars #2 (of 4)! Then, follow Peter Stanchek and the Renegades into their first encounter with the escaped children of PRS in Harbinger #12, in stores May 8th; and witness Bloodshot’s secret programming in action in Bloodshot #11, in stores May 15th!

Valiant is proud to announce that its much anticipated free 8-bit mobile game, Harbinger Wars: Battle for Las Vegas, will be hitting iOS and Android devices everywhere on May 2nd!

Available as a free app via the App Store and Android Marketplace, Valiant’s action-packed, retro-styled sidescroller gives users the ability to control Bloodshot or Harbinger’s Peter Stanchek as they fight their way out of a classified Project Rising Spirit compound and directly into the crosshairs of an epic superhuman showdown on the Vegas Strip!

Out of the pages of Valiant’s smash-hit summer crossover event and onto your favorite mobile device, Harbinger Wars: Battle for Las Vegas is a first-of-its-kind gaming experience that mirrors the events of the ongoing Valiant comic book storyline by Joshua Dysart, Duane Swierczynski and Clayton Henry. Developed in concert with Storm City Entertainment and Gameshastra, Valiant’s first mobile game comes complete with an all-original 8-bit soundtrack, a wide array of Easter eggs for longtime gamers and Valiant fans, and gameplay that emulates some of the most well-remembered console classics of the 1980s.

“With Harbinger Wars: Battle for Las Vegas, we were very much trying to create a throwback to the greatest games of the late 80s and early 90s, and our partners at Storm City and Gameshastra have managed to strike the perfect balance between nostalgia and cutting-edge mobile utility,” said Russell A. Brown, Valiant’s President of Consumer Products, Promotions and Ad Sales. “A cross-promotion like this has never before been attempted by a major comics publisher, and it’s our hope that it gets fans and retailers all the more excited for the exciting storytelling that Valiant has in the offing with Harbinger Wars.”

“Everything that we do starts with producing the best, most accessible comics we can and Harbinger Wars: Battle for Las Vegas is an extension of that philosophy,” said Valiant CEO and Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. “This free mobile game will let fans engage with the story behind Harbinger Wars firsthand, and we’ve already seen new readers get excited about the game and jump on board the comics.”

A 12-issue crossover event from an all-star cast of visionary talent, the defining Valiant Universe storyline of the year continues on May 1st in Harbinger Wars #2 (of 4). Jump on board the series that IGN calls “one hell of a ride” right here, then get a sneak peek at things to come this Free Comic Book Day with the Valiant 2013: Harbinger Wars FCBD Special – available in participating comic shops everywhere this May 4th!

Valiant is proud to announce the upcoming release of Valiant Masters: Eternal Warrior Vol. 1 – The Fist and Steel HC – a new hardcover collection re-presenting the legendary debut of Valiant’s original immortal hero for the first time anywhere!

For a thousand generations, Gilad Anni-Padda has defended the innocent and dealt out justice as the Eternal Warrior – the undying champion of the Geomancers, the Earth’s chosen Fist and Steel. An unsung veteran of every war ever waged, Gilad’s hard-fought quest from the ancient world to modern day Los Angeles will force him to the forefront of the Valiant Universe – and into a brand new kind of battle alongside the likes of Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, and his own long-lost brother, the one and only Armstrong.

Relive these centuries-spanning adventures and more in Valiant Masters: Eternal Warrior Vol. 1 – The Fist and Steel HC – available in finer comic shops everywhere this August!

And for an advance look inside, check out the Valiant Masters: 2013 FCBD Showcase Edition in comic shops everywhere for Free Comic Book Day this May 4th! Visit FreeComicBookDay.com to find a participating retailer near you.

Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Shadowman #0 from Harvey Award-nominated writer Justin Jordan (The Legend of Luther Strode) and an all-star cast of visionary artists including Roberto De La Torre (Daredevil), Mico Suayan (Harbinger), Neil Edwards (Fantastic Four) and Lewis LaRosa (PunisherMAX)! For hundreds of years, the Shadowmen have guarded our world from the nightmare realm known as the Deadside and its sadistic necromancer, Master Darque. But who is Master Darque? And what is the root of his otherworldly evil?

Now, for the first time anywhere, the answer to these questions and more will finally be revealed. Journey back to the plantations of antebellum Louisiana to meet the man once called Nicodemo Darque and discover how a depraved life drenched in dust, blood, and bone transformed him into a menace that would one day threaten the whole of the Valiant Universe and all life as we know it.

Before the discovery of the Deadside, before Jack Boniface, before the rise of the Valiant Universe, go back to the beginning to witness the first coming of Master Darque on May 1st in Shadowman #0 – now featuring a wraparound standard cover by Eisner Award-winning artist Dave Johnson!

From April 26th to April 28th, Valiant Entertainment will be joining the festivities at C2E2, Chicago’s premier comics and pop culture convention, and we’re bringing along a ton of special guests and exclusive giveaways to celebrate!

Visit Valiant at booth #1029 all weekend long to get a sneak peek at the next big things to rock the Valiant Universe inside the pages of the Valiant Summer 2013 Preview Edition – a FREE C2E2-exclusive convention giveaway, featuring a look inside Quantum & Woody #1 by James Asmus and Tom Fowler and an extended preview of Harbinger Wars #1, the debut issue of Valiant’s first crossover event.

Stop by for signings and appearances throughout the show by some of the Valiant Universe’s greatest talents, including New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, Demon Knights, The Surrogates), New York Times best-selling artist Clayton Henry (Harbinger Wars, Archer & Armstrong, Incredible Hercules), and acclaimed artist Mico Suayan (Harbinger, Batman: The Dark Knight).

As always, Valiant will also have a complete selection of Valiant comics, trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and t-shirts on hand, alongside a brand new convention-exclusive Harbinger Wars #1/Shadowman #1 blank flip book – debuting for the very first time at C2E2!

Then, find out everything you need to know about the Valiant Universe in 2013 on Saturday, April 27th at 4pm in room W471 for the Valiant 2013: Harbinger Wars and Beyond panel presentation! With the landmark events of Harbinger Wars and Planet Death currently underway, find out what’s next for Valiant’s greatest heroes directly from a panel of Valiant insiders, including X-O Manowar writer Robert Venditti, Harbinger Wars artist Clayton Henry, Executive Editor Warren Simons, Publisher Fred Pierce, and CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.

And rounding out the weekend, join Valiant’s Executive Editor and a special slate of surprise guests on Sunday, April 28th at 11:30 AM W474 for Valiant 2013: The Craft of Comics with Warren Simons. In this candid, behind-the-scenes panel discussion, find out just what it takes to put together a compelling story from start to finish, how to make your series stand apart, and how the editorial process functions at the highest levels – from the award-winning industry veteran behind the Valiant relaunch and a host of fan favorite titles, including Thor, Immortal Iron Fist, Invincible Iron Man, and many more!

Valiant is proud to announce a partnership with HQM Editora, Brazil’s premier publisher of Portuguese language comic books and graphic novels, to bring the Valiant Universe to a new generation of fans in South America.

Beginning this May, HQM Editora will launch a new, dedicated line of Valiant releases with the first serialized translations of three of Valiant’s best-selling ongoing series in the pages of X-O Manowar Magazine – an oversized monthly anthology re-presenting X-O Manowar by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord; Harbinger by Joshua Dysart and Khari Evans; and Bloodshot by Duane Swierczynski and Manuel Garcia.

Compiling one issue of each series together in HQM’s oversized format, the release of X-O Manowar Magazine #1 will mark the first time Valiant’s monthly titles have been published in a foreign language since the publisher’s much acclaimed relaunch.

After the conclusion of each series’ first story arc, Harbinger and Bloodshot will spin-off into a second monthly title, Universo Valiant Apresenta (Valiant Universe Presents), spotlighting the lead-up to Valiant’s first crossover event, Harbinger Wars. Trade paperback collections of each translated series are slated for release later in 2013.

“The Valiant team and HQM have been working very closely since we started planning the line. We love the idea of helping Valiant spread worldwide,” said Carlos Costa, HQM Editora’s Founder and Editor-in-Chief. “Valiant is hot, the type of thing HQM looks for when searching for comics to publish. They’re perfect for a new audience and also offer something different for super-hero fans.”

“Valiant has some of the best creators and their stories are explosive. There’s no strings attached and that will attract people,” said HQM Editora Executive Director Artur Tavares.

HQM Editora began publishing in 2006 with the first Portuguese language editions of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead and Invincible and, in the years since, has produced Portuguese translations of a distinguished array of titles, including Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean’s Violent Cases, David Lloyd’s Kickback, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn, Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise, and Dave Steven’s The Rocketeer.

“Valiant has incredible worldwide recognition and a legion of fans globally,” said Russell A. Brown, Valiant’s President of Consumer Products, Promotions, and Ad Sales. “This is a perfect first step toward giving those fans the series they’ve been clamoring for, and the first of many international publishing initiatives that Valiant plans to unveil in the coming year.”

Writer James Asmus (Thief of Thieves, Gambit, The End Times of Bram & Ben) and artist Tom Fowler (Venom, Hulk: Season One) punt the world’s worst superhero team headfirst into the Valiant Universe!

Once upon a time, Eric and Woody Henderson were inseparable. Adopted brothers. Best friends. Brilliant minds. Years later, they are estranged siblings, petty rivals, and washed-up failures. But when their father’s murder leads them into the throes of a life-altering scientific accident, Eric and Woody will find themselves with a whole new purpose – and a perfectly legitimate reason to wear costumes and fight crime. Go big or go home, folks! Quantum and Woody are coming! And the action-packed, zeitgeist-shredding exploitation stunt comic you demanded is here at last.

H.A.R.D. Corps vs. Bloodshot vs. Toyo Harada vs. Peter and the Renegades! Who will be left standing amidst the wreckage once called Las Vegas? The bone-crushing conclusion to Valiant’s first summer blockbuster is here – and no hero in the Valiant Universe can escape its aftershocks.

Choosing sides is never easy – especially when the decision could get you killed.

As the Harbinger Wars reach their boiling point, Peter and his team must decide what role to play as the lines between friend and foe blur and the casualties pile high all around them. But just when all seems lost, a new ally will emerge from the unlikeliest of places – and Peter Stanchek’s ragtag band of teenage psiots will add a new hero to their ranks. Who will join the Harbinger Renegades?!

A battle for the lives of Project Rising Spirit’s escaped psiot children is being waged between Toyo Harada, Peter Stancheck’s Renegades and the H.A.R.D. Corps – and Bloodshot stands in the center of it all. But even if Bloodshot manages to win the day, will the tortured, traumatized, and über-powerful kids he’s fought for choose to remain under the protection of the Harbinger hunter that once haunted their nightmares? Something’s in the air – and a new era is unfolding for the weapon – no, the soldier – no, the man known as Bloodshot.

Aric of Dacia returns to Earth after the events of Planet Death with his mind set on reclaiming the ancestral lands of his people. The code of a fifth century Visigoth is about to clash with the militaries of the modern world, and the only one who may be able to convince Aric to stand down is someone from his past – Gilad Anni-Padda, the Eternal Warrior. Artist Lee Garbett (X-O Manowar: Enter Ninjak!) reteams with writer Robert Venditti for a brand-new arc that will set the stage for X-O Manowar’s next year in the Valiant Universe.

The mysterious disappearances of history have all wound up in the hollow world called The Faraway – and now so have Archer & Armstrong and their arch-nemesis! Can the Valiant Universe’s greatest conspiracy-busters find their way out before they’re trapped forever? And we warn you to have your insurance premiums paid up before reading the last page revelation of the origin of The Boon – because your jaw will drop! (And probably need to be reattached surgically.)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE JULY 17th!

SHADOWMAN #8
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Variant Cover by DAVID MACK

Jack Boniface’s life is about to become a living hell.

Master Darque may be trapped in the forbidden realm known as the Deadside, but his disciples on earth, the Brethren, continue to track Jack’s every move. When Shadowman takes the fight to their doorstep, the Brethren’s counterattack proves much more than Jack bargained for…and the people he cares about are going to pay the price…

No one in the Valiant Universe is more dangerous or more experienced in the art of war than the undying Eternal Warrior. After thousands of years on the battlefield, he’s a master of strategy and weaponry, an unrelenting force of nature capable of dismantling entire armies with little effort and less conscience. His brother Armstrong, on the other hand, likes to read poetry and drink beer. Maybe that’s why they had such a bad falling out? But now – after years apart – the Eternal Warrior has a new mission: destroy young Obadiah Archer, Armstrong’s best-est new buddy and teammate in the war against The Sect. And, like it or not, Valiant’s history-smashing adventure duo are about to feel the brunt of the Eternal Warrior’s fist and steel.

Collecting ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #5-9 by New York Times best-selling author Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man) and critically acclaimed artist Emanuela Lupacchino (X-Factor), the second volume of the series that IGN calls “hilarious and action packed” slams into high gear with a savage manhunt straight through the heart of the Valiant Universe.

“Exactly what you should want from a monthly comic.” – Comic Book Resources
“It’s a masterclass in how to tell a story, in every respect.” – The Beat
“A knockout punch of awesomeness…” – Comic Vine

Dynamic Forces is proud to announce a new licensing partnership with Valiant Entertainment, the leading independent publisher of such best-selling series as X-O Manowar, Archer & Armstrong, Bloodshot and many more. The industry’s premiere collectibles company has been granted the rights to create resin statues, dioramas, bookends, full-size head reproductions, busts, lithographs, posters, and more, featuring the logos and artwork of Valiant’s fan favorite super-hero universe. The first Dynamic Forces product in partnership with Valiant will be the upcoming X-O Manowar lithograph, featuring the artwork of superstar artist Marko Djurdjevic.

“I worked extensively with Dynamic Forces during my time at Marvel and, true to form, they have a wide array of exciting plans in store for Valiant’s universe of characters,” said Russell A. Brown, Valiant’s President of Consumer Products, Promotions and Ad Sales. “We’re incredibly excited and enthused to have them on board on as one of Valiant’s licensing partners.”

“Dynamic Forces is one of the leading licensors in comics and with good reason. They’re passionate, knowledgeable and experienced, and we look forward to a fruitful partnership,” said Valiant CEO and Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.

The Dynamic Forces/Valiant licensing partnership will launch this July with an all-new X-O Manowar lithograph, featuring the artwork of world-renowned illustrator and artist Marko Djurdjevic reproduced in a oversized 18″ by 24″ format. Reproducing the cover of X-O Manowar #12 – the one-year of anniversary issue of X-O Manowar’s return of the Valiant Universe – the lithograph features Valiant’s armored Visigoth hero locked in mortal combat with deadly alien adversary.

“As a lifelong fan of comic books, I can honestly say that Valiant’s return was something I had long been waiting for, and their astronomical success since the ‘Summer of Valiant’ campaign is so very well deserved. Their line is one of the most cohesive in comics, and most accessible. ” says Nick Barrucci, CEO of Dynamic Forces. “Words can’t express how excited I am to work with Dinesh and Valiant Entertainment to create a range of high-quality, high-end collectibles that their hardcore fans will cherish having.”

ABOUT VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT

Valiant is a leading character-based entertainment company with a library of over 1,500 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and many more. Established in 1989, Valiant has sold over 80 million comic books, and today its characters continue to be forged in publishing, licensing, film, video games, and beyond.

DF is the comic-book and collectible industry’s top producer of limited-edition and autographed memorabilia, including comic books and lithographs. DF functions as a packager of comics, ranking as high as one of the top five suppliers of Diamond Comic Distributors. It is also a premiere comic and entertainment supplier for the United States and international multimedia retailers.

Valiant is proud to announce that it has partnered with Quarantine Studio for an exclusive array of high-quality limited edition statues, realizing the greatest heroes of the Valiant Universe in three dimensions for the first time anywhere!

The first Valiant/Quarantine release, scheduled for 2014, will be the X-O Manowar Deluxe Edition Statue, based upon the art of superstar artist Marko Djurdjevic. Sculpted in polyresin and standing 14 inches high on a 9 inch by 10 inch base, the first-ever sculptural representation of Valiant’s signature hero will recreate Djurdjevic’s iconic cover art to X-O Manowar #12 – a key centerpiece of the “Planet Death” storyline currently being published the X-O Manowar monthly series. The hero then begins a brand new adventure this July in X-O Manowar #15 – the first issue of an all-new story arc by New York Times best-selling author Robert Venditti and fan favorite artist Lee Garbett.

A fifth century Visigoth warrior abducted from his own time and stranded in the modern day, X-O Manowar is engaged in a never-ending crusade against the race of alien conquerors known only as the Vine. With agents implanted over a millennium in every rank and station of human society, the Vine believed their silent conquest of Earth was all but assured – until Aric of Dacia escaped back to Earth bearing the Vine’s own ultimate weapon. Now, trapped in a century far removed from his own, the hero called X-O Manowar will finally have his revenge on his alien oppressors. And the weapon he will use to do it will be their own.

“The most amazing thing about our working on this tremendous catalog of titles and characters is that the Valiant brand has, up until now, been untapped for the statue market,” said Quarantine Studio CEO Paul Conner and Creative Director William Paquet. “With every other major comic publisher having been licensed repeatedly over the past couple decades, Valiant has been lurking in the shadows, rebuilding its footprint to unleash itself back into the spotlight with supersonic concussion. To say we are thrilled to be a part of this renaissance is a gross understatement.

“We have long been fans of Valiant, but the rebirth of the company is mind-boggling,” they added. “Our most difficult task right now is deciding where to focus our creative efforts. The Valiant Universe is vast and inspiring.”

“Quarantine have a proven and well-earned reputation for producing some of the most high-quality sculptures in the industry,” said Russell A. Brown, Valiant’s President of Consumer Products, Promotions, and Ad Sales. “They’re an ideal partner for Valiant and this is the first of many of exciting partnerships we plan to reveal in the coming weeks and months.”

Founded in the fall of 2008, Quarantine Studio is one of the U.S.’s leading producers of pre-painted statues and faux bronzes, having previously produced works based on a wide array of properties including Robert E. Howard’s Conan, Frank Frazetta’s Death Dealer, and Topps’ Mars Attacks!

Valiant is a leading character-based entertainment company with a library of over 1,500 characters. Since its summer 2012 relaunch, Valiant has returned to the fore as one of the most highly regarded publishers in comics, winning the 2012 Diamond Gem Award for Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Under 4%. Valiant’s current titles include X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, Archer & Armstrong, and Shadowman with a new, sixth title – Quantum and Woody – scheduled for a July 2013 debut.